3 Delicious Gazpacho Recipes for Hot Summer Nights

I'm really excited about tomatoes right now. July's warm weather has ushered in tomato season, and the juicy beauties at my market are just about perfect. But warmer weather also means no one wants to turn on the stove. That's why gazpacho, a cold soup bursting with tomatoes and vegetables (it's pretty much a delicious liquid salad; what's better than that?!) is the ideal way to use summer tomatoes.

While the origins of gazpacho are debated, most food historians agree it probably originated in southern Spain. It's an ancient dish that is super easy to make (which is probably why it's stuck around so long), and even a beginner in the kitchen can add or subtract ingredients to make this cool, savory soup her own. Gazpacho is best if it sits for at least an hour, and overnight is even better. Try the three variations below, and then experiment with your own version!

1. Basic Recipe

Serves 2Ingredients:

*1 red, yellow, or orange pepper

2 plum tomatoes

1 garlic clove minced (or 1 tsp. from a jar)

1 shallot (or small onion)

1 rib of celery

1 1/2 cups of tomato juice (you can use any jarred or canned version, V8 Juice or if you like spicy, Bloody Mary juice)

2 tbsp white wine vinegar

2 tbsp olive oil

Salt, pepper to taste*

Chop celery, peppers, tomatoes, and shallot (as big or small as you like). Combine in a large bowl and add garlic, tomato juice, vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Mix well and chill before serving with hunks of crusty bread or croutons.

2. Make It Healthier

Since gazpacho is inherently healthy and packed with veggies, making it healthier is a matter of upping the amount of raw veggies (add another pepper and some more celery for a chunkier soup), using a low-sodium organic tomato juice and topping with homemade gluten-, dairy-, and sugar-free Omega Croutons.

3. Make It Heartier

If you (or your guy) can't have dinner without a protein, try this variation from Jackie Alpers that mixes diced tomatoes, tomato juice, chili, lemon juice, hot sauce, and precooked shrimp. You can cook the shrimp yourself, or pick up about a cup of cooked shrimp at the market to split between two bowls. Filling, summery, and no sweating over the oven!